Enrichment: Exercise / Activity

Prevent:

• Puppy tantrums, refusal to walk or participate in an activity, problem-mouthing/biting, and jumping are all common symptoms of an over-tired puppy. Puppies, just like kids, can get more hyper the more exhausted they get! The goal should be to satiate their needs, not exhaust them.

• Teach your puppy an end-of-session release cue (such as ‘all done’) to clearly communicate when you are finished with an activity.  Be ready with an activity that they can do on their own that will help them calm down, like a chew or food stuffed toy.  This is a great time to focus on crate and alone training.

What to Do:

• All pups are individuals and the amount of activity your puppy requires will vary based on breed and their current stage of development.  They can do lots of free choice activities and encourage regular breaks.  A good rule of thumb for structured activity (like tug/fetch, walks, and training sessions) is 5 minutes or less of structured activity per month of age per bout.  If your puppy doesn’t want to participate anymore, it is time for a break!  Try to stop before your puppy is too tired to participate.

• Avoid significant jumping (take care with furniture) or hard surface running until their bones and soft tissues have had a chance to fully develop (12 to 18 months). Take care with stairs, rushing up and down or doing excessive numbers of stairs can have negative impacts on your puppy’s bones and joints. Balance with learning to calmly go up and down stairs, so they are not afraid of them as they get older.  Discuss what is appropriate for your breed and age of puppy with your vet.

• Offer a wide variety of age-appropriate activities and learn your puppy’s preferences.  Balance social bonding, mental enrichment, and physical activity.  If your puppy needs more of a particular type of activity, they will let you know by choosing inappropriate behaviors to get what they would like.  If their needs are met, these behaviors will typically resolve.

• Chewing will be an important activity for your puppy through its first year.  Offer a variety of appropriate substrates for them to try out, and swap options regularly so they will chew the items you prefer.

• Positive reinforcement-based training can start right away, but prioritize socialization through the first 16 weeks.  Your puppy can learn new tricks anytime!

• Puppies need more than physical activity. Trying to run their legs off can leave you with a puppy who is too tired and frustrated to stop themselves from mouthing and struggle to calm down.

• Playing tug with your puppy does not cause aggression.  It is a great way to build confidence (let them win most of the time) and an opportunity to bond with your puppy.  Keep the game gentle and fun – start with dragging the toy and apply gentle resistance.  High-energy tug should be avoided with small puppies to avoid potential injury.